http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/back-surgery/lumbar-decompression-back-surgery
Lumbar Decompression Back Surgery
A microdiscectomy (a microdecompression) is typically performed for pain from a lumbar herniated disc. The surgery is considered reliable for leg pain caused by the herniated disc, most commonly called sciatica by patients, and most commonly referred to by medical practitioners as a radiculopathy.
- Isthmic or degenerative spondylolisthesis
- A synovial cyst or a fracture with bone filling the spinal canal
- A spinal tumor (rarely)
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Lumbar Decompression Back Surgery
- Corpectomy – The vertebral body can be removed through an anterior incision to decompress a canal. The surgery involves removing part of the vertebra in order to decompress, or relieve pressure on, the spinal cord and/or spinal nerves. This surgery is used most commonly in cervical surgery, although occasionally it is useful in the thoracic spine. It is almost never necessary for in the lumbar spine, except in cases of tumors or fractures.
- Laminotomy – this surgery is essentially the same as a laminectomy, with the exception that a hole is made in the lamina (as opposed to removing the entire lamina).
- Interspinous process spacer – a possible alternative to a laminectomy, the goal of the interspinous process spacer surgeryis to relieve spinal stenosis symptoms with a less invasive surgery.
A lumbar laminectomy (open decompression) is typically performed for pain from lumbar spinal stenosis. The goal of the surgery is to allow more room for the nerve root, thus reducing pain (and potentially any leg weakness or neurological symptoms) and restoring the patient’s ability to participate in everyday activities.